Consumer wants and needs are a huge factor in the evolution of smartphone designs. We always need more features on our phones for work, socials, entertainment, news, and health, and we always want improvements on our phone’s hardware. In the latest Camon 18P, Tecno Mobile introduced premium camera features like gimbal stabilization and ultra zoom, thanks to the periscopic lens.
Design: 5/5
Tecno phones offer great retail bundles, packaging an adapter, a USB-C cable, earphones, an ejector pin, and a transparent silicone case in the box. Our Tecno Camon 18P review unit came in Dusk Grey. It has a matte and glass finish that makes it look sleek and magnificent to the touch. It is splash-proof with extra seals to prevent hardware failures from dust, raindrops, and or water splashes.
Its large 6.8” FHD+ display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and its 550nits of brightness guarantees that the contents of the screen are easy to read even in a bright environment. The device’s SIM+SD card tray is on the left side; the volume button and power and fingerprint ID are mounted on the right; and the headphone jack, speakers, and the USB Type C port are all located at the bottom.
Hardware: 4/5
The Tecno Camon 18P is powered by a MediaTek Helios G96 octa-core chip and runs on Tecno’s proprietary HiOS Android 11-based operating system. It has 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, expandable via microSD. The battery is a massive 5000mAh and comes with a 33W flash charger.
On this smartphone, Tecno did focus on the camera department, giving it a significant photography upgrade. Its triple rear camera with quad flash set up consists of a 48MP Wide, 13MP portrait, and 2MP depth camera. With electronic image stabilization, its 48MP video camera captures clear and steady 4K videos at 30fps. Meanwhile, the 16MP front selfie camera has dual flash and is able to take 1080p videos at 30fps.
User Experience: 4/5
As someone who loves gaming and taking pictures, I tried out the camera and tested out the AI Cam, Super Night, and video capture. I was able to maximize the features and it was a satisfying experience. Taking pictures with either the rear and front cameras produce sharp and clear images. I tried the 30x hyper zoom that uses a 5X periscope lens and Galileo algorithm engine that gathers pixels to enhance the resolution and the clarity of the picture, and got good enough results, although photo and video quality could still be improved. The Super Night mode was indeed a magical experience for me, as it captured photos in low light without compromising picture quality. The fun thing about the camera is that you can manually set the exposure, the focus, and the ISO levels. Taking videos was seamless with the Ultra-Steady Gimbal camera that has exceptional anti-shaking technology and when you combine it with their wide-angle shot, you get exquisite quality videos.
Gaming was as amazing as my camera experience. When I got the device, I immediately downloaded League of Legends: Wild Rift and Call of Duty Mobile which both required at least 2GB RAM and 15GB of internal storage for patches and resources. I played both games with a stable internet connection and the graphics were crisp even in medium quality with only minimal FPS drop, but playing was even better in high quality. A slight drawback is the phone overheating. Also since the Tecno Camon 18P only has a mono speaker, the quality of the game audio detracts from the overall gaming experience.
Media consumption is such a treat! With the Tecno Camon 18P’s massive battery, you can watch and play for up to 8 hours. Additionally, it has an Ultra-Power saving mode that effectively extends battery life. You don’t have to worry about charging as its 33W flash charger can take your battery from 0% to 60% in just 30 minutes.
Value: 4/5
The Tecno Camon 18P is without doubt a fascinating smartphone. It has a great display screen and a camera that has top-tier features like gimbal stabilization and periscopic lens. Its software isn’t crawling with third-party apps and services. Compared to other smartphone brands in the same price range, this device is a great buy and in fact it may be a good steal. You’ll get the most out of the PHP10,990 sticker price.
Specifications:
- CPU: MediaTek Helio G96, 8-core
- Memory: 8GB (RAM) + 128GB (ROM)
- Display: 6.8” Dot-in FHD + AMOLED
- Resolution: 1080 x 2460p
- Operating System: HiOS 8.0 based on Android
- Camera: 16MP front camera with dual flash | 48+13+2MP rear camera with 1.7x optical zoom, 30X digital zoom, and Quad-LED flash
- Battery: 5000 mAh, 33W flash charger
- Fingerprint: Side mounted
- Front/Back: Glass (front), plastic (back)
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 168.86 x 76.67 x 8.77 mm
- Colors: Dusk Grey, Iris Purple, Ceramic White
- Package includes fast-charging adaptor, USB Type C cable, 3.5, jack earphones, sim card tray ejector pin, transparent phone case
What’s Hot:
- Improved battery life and 33W fast charging support
- Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
- Camera upgrade and performance
- Rich retail bundle
- Reliable performance
What’s Not:
- Mono speakers
- No Gorilla glass protection
- Overheating issues when gaming
Bottomline:
The Tecno Camon 18P is an excellent quality phone that offers everything you need at a mid-range price.
Reviewed by Franceska Aguila
Also published in Gadgets Magazine December 2021-January 2022 issue.